GATSIBO- Over 70 stray elephants from Akagera National Park, over the weekend, destroyed crops worth Rwf 6 million in Munini cell, Rwimbogo Sector, Gatsibo District.

According to area residents, the crops destroyed include sorghum, maize, tomatoes and banana plantations, among others.

"They attacked us for the last two days and destroyed hectares of our plantations,” Charles Makuza, one of the residents said.

According to agronomists in the district, an estimated 80 hectares of plantations were destroyed by the elephants.

"We have so far counted 80 hectares of crops that were destroyed by the elephants,” said Gilbert Habyarimana, Rwimbogo sector agronomist.

By Monday morning, Rwanda Defence Forces (RDF) had dispatched a helicopter to intervene and hound the elephants back to the park.

"They were advancing in big numbers from the park but we used a helicopter to send them back. We are not stopping the operation until every elephant is sent back to the park,” an RDF officer who was at the scene said.

In an interview with The New Times, the district Mayor, Ambrose Ruboneza, said that the issue of elephants attacking residents’ crops is beyond the control of the district authorities and called on concerted efforts in preventing further destruction.

"This is a serious issue that cannot be solved by the district alone. There’s need for joint efforts in stopping further attacks. We call upon institutions in charge of the National Park to fence it with utmost urgency,” he said.

Apart from stray elephants, Ruboneza added, buffaloes had also destroyed a number of crops in the district.

"This is not the first time to experience animals from the national park attacking and destroying residents’ plantations. We have been fighting buffaloes several times,” he said.

Fortunately, no one killed by the marauding elephants but three residents were reportedly injured during the attacks.

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